Refrigerator with sliding shelves



April 1 1958 RELEWS y 2,829,022

REFRIGERATOR WITH SLIDING SHELVES Filed May 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet-l 120liewz's INVENTOR ATTORNEYS April 1, 1958 R. E. LEWIS REFRIGERAIOR WITHSLIDING SHELVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6, 1955 IIIIIY IIIII I: I I Iv 1 I- United States Patent REFRIGERATOR WITH SLIDING SHELVES Roy E.Lewis, Atlanta, Ga. Application May 6, 1955, Serial No. 506,450

1 Claim. or. 312-223 This invention relates to a refrigerator, andmoreparticularly to a refrigerator with automatically sliding shelves,the motion of which shelves may be selected by the activation of amaster switch, whereby a selected shelf will slide outwardly from theicebox or refrigerator to a predetermined degree.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such arefrigerator wherein any one of a selected number of shelves may be slidforwardly out of the refrigerator to render ready access to the foodsstored thereon.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of means wherebythe shelves may be retracted into the refrigerator by actuation of theswitch when their purpose is served.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a refrigeratorwherein the extension of the shelves may be accomplished substantiallyautomatically.

A still further object of the invention is the, provision of a mechanismof this character wherein the retraction of the shelves may beaccomplished substantially automatically.

Other objects will in part be obvious, and in part be pointed out, asthe description of the invention proceeds, and disclosed in theaccompanying drawings, wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment ofthis inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view, partially in section and partially inelevation, and taken substantially along the line 11 of Figure 3,disclosing a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

Figure 2 is a front view, partially in elevation and partially insection, disclosing one embodiment of this inventive concept.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 ofFigure 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 ofFigure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55of,Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a schematic wiring diagram.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, there is generallyindicated at 10 a refrigerator cabinet of generally conventionalconstruction provided with a plurality of shelves 11, which shelves arepreferably made of a single piece or stamping of stainless steel or thelike. Positioned in the base of the refrigerator is a push and pullsolenoid 12, consisting of a pair of oppositely disposed windings 13 and14 (see Figure 6), the solenoid having a piston 15, connected with ahydraulic piston 16 in a cylinder 17. The cylinder 17 has a tubularmember 18 which leads to a master selector valve 19, to be more fullydescribed hereinafter, from which extend a plurality of tubular members20, the number being dependent 2,829,022 Patented A r. 1, 1958 upon thenumber of shelves in the refrigerator, and each tubular member 20leading to a selected shelf. Each shelf 11 is mounted upon a pluralityof rollers 21' which are journaled in the sides of the box for rotativemovement for moving the shelf forwardly or rearwardly.

Upon the actuation of the control valve, in a manner to be more fullydescribed hereinafter, any one of a selectedshelf 11 may be movedforwardly, by the introduction of hydraulic fluid from the cylinder 17through the pipe 20 to its associated cylinder 21, which energizationoccasions themoving of a piston 22 longitudinally of the cylinder 21,which in turn operates to move the shelf 11 outwardly of therefrigerator.

Obviously, reverse movement of the solenoid by means of switch 37 towithdraw the fluid from hydraulic cylinder 17 will occasion retrogrademovement of the shelf into the interior of the refrigerator. Theselection of the shelf is accomplished by means of an illuminated dial30, having indicia 31 thereon, which dial is provided with gear teeth onits rear extremity, which engage the teeth 31 of a rod 32 which extendsdownwardly to a link member 33 pivotally connected to arm 34 thatcontrols the four-way selection valve 19. As best shown in Figure 5, thevalve 19 includes a plurality of passageways 40, 41, 42 and 43, each ofwhich leads selectively to one of the shelves indicated by the indiciaon dial 30. Obviously, by turning the knob 30 to a selected point ofindicia, a selected shelf 11 may be ejected from the refrigerator.

A switch 35 actuated by engagement with the door 36 of the refrigerator,serves through a circuit to be hereinafter described, to illuminate dial30 the interior of the refrigerator and energize the solenoid. A secondswitch 37 may serve to energize through a circuit also to be more fullydescribed hereinafter the actuating mechanism for a selected shelf,provided the dial 30 has been preset to such determination, alternatelyextending or retracting said shelf.

Referring now to the wiring diagram as disclosed in Figure 6, the switch35 is indicated as being positioned between wires 40' and 41' the coldline 42 being connected as by a connection 43 and 44 to the refrigeratorilluminating bulb 45. A further sector of the wire 46 extends throughwire 47 to a lamp 48, which is adapted to illuminate the dial 30. A wire49 leads from bulb 48 back through wires 50 and 51 to the wire 40 andthrough the switch 35. A second switch 37 is adapted to be closed fromwire 61 to wire 62 through the solenoid coil 14, and thence through wire64, in order to actuate the solenoid core 63 which will, in the mannerpreviously described, extend one of the shelves from the refrigeratorwhen switch 37 is positioned at terminal which leads to wire 65 tosolenoid coil 13, thereby reversing solenoid core 63 and retracting theshelf.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that upon suitable positioning ofthe selector switch 30 and actuation of the rod 32, the multipleselector valve 19 will be energized to actuate a particular shelf toextended position. Conversely, upon the reversal of the switch 37, theshelf will be retracted into the refrigerator, and the door may beclosed. A

A receptacle 70 is provided on the outside or the exterior of therefrigerator for the containing of fluid, and communicates through atube 71 with the valve 19, in order that a sufiicient supply ofhydraulic fluid may be maintained at all times.

From the foregoing, it will now be seen that there is herein provided animproved automatic refrigerator, which accomplishes all of the objectsof this invention, and others, including many advantages of greatpractical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as manymodifications may be made in the embodiments hereinbefore shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that all matters herein are to beinterpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: 7

In a refrigerator including a base and side walls, said side wallshaving internally positioned spaced apart pairs of horizontal guidesthereon, a plurality of shelves slidable in said guides, a fluidoperator, comprising a hydraulically actuated piston and piston rod, anda cylinder for said piston positioned beneath each shelf, means securingthe outer endof each of said piston rods to the forward edge of itsassociated shelf, a master operator located in said base, hydraulicfluid conducting tubes connecting said master operator to each fluidoperator, a selective connected to said master operator, and a reversingswitch connected to said coils, selectively to energize said coilswhereby said core may be moved in one direction to effect extension of aselected shelf and may be moved in the opposite direction to retract aselected shelf.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS580,844 Merrill d. Apr. 20, 1897 1,871,095 Tomkinson Aug. 9, 19322,185,763 De Lisle Jan. 2, 1940 2,707,666 Becker May 3, 1955

